Musical instrument apparatus



Filed sept. 7,` 1945 4 Sheets-Shee l Dkeyavz @3% W625i.

March 11, 1952 v. D. DEGAN 2,588,617

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1945 v 4 Sheets-Shee 2 March11, 1952 v. D. DEGAN 2,588,617

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1945 4 SheeS-Sheei 3 March11, 1952 v. D. DEGAN 2,588,617

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT APPARATUS Filed Sepc.- 7, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 j@ 5.Zf'g. 4.

25 23 45 23 K 383g 45 25 34\ .a3 35 Inni/72 07" Patented Mar. 11, 1952UNITED STATES PATENT rOFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT APPARATUS VictorDalDegan, Chicago, Ill.A

Application September 7, 1945, Serial N o. 614,874

8 Claims.- (Cl. 84-376) This inventionrelates to a musical'instrumentapparatusand has for one object to provide a device'upon which theseparated bellows and the keyboard sections of an accordion may bemounted so that the instrument can be supported by the device insuitableposition for playing.

Another object is to provide a cabinet or device adapted to receive amusical instrument for playing.`

Anotherv object'is' to` provide means for supporting theseparated-bellows' and keyboard sections of an accordion so that it maybe played without .the necessity of the operators wearing or carryingit.

Other'objectswill appear from time to time throughout the speciiicationand claims.

This'invention-is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:v

Figure l is a' sectional view taken through the keyboard section of anaccordion and through a device for supporting' it;

Figure 2 is a perspective view ofthe device shown in Figure l, lookingtoward the position occupied by the'player;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the device, looking lin a directiongenerally opposite from that of Figure 2, and showing the device alonewithoutthe accordion.

Figurei isa sectional detail on an enlarged scale taken at line 4 4 ofiFigure 1;

'Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional detail taken on an enlarged scaleat line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a detail of parts shown in Figure 5, looking' in thedirection of the arrow A,

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specificationand the drawings.

In the particular form shown, the device comprises an accordion-carryingmember supported on legs I, which may be joined by cross members 2'- andalongitudinal member 3. A foot rest f3 may be positioned on the device,if desired.

Since the device is arranged to permit playing with the operator in aseated position, it is convenient to secure a chair or bench to thedevice so that relative movement of the two is impossible, There is thusshown a chair 5 having a leg or legs 5, which may be joined by a crossmember This cross member, as shown, is removably se cured to one or bothof the cross members 2 by a bolt or bolts 8 having thumb nuts 9.

As shown particularly in Figure 3, the device has a partially openbottom, and it isv formed ofv frame-like members 'which includea frontlongitudinalmember I0, an intermediate longitudinal CIK 2 member i I, asmall extended longitudinal member l2 and end frame parts I3. Spacing orpo'- sitioning members i4, I4 may be positioned as shown particularly inFigure 3.

Above the member I2 is positioned an inclined enclosing member I5 whichforms the bottom of a more or less box-like member having sides I andI'I and ends i8 and I9. As shown in Figures l and 3, the end i9 has anopening or passage 20 formed through it. The device may be enclosed by acurved member 2i and by ends 22.

An air chamber is positioned at one side of the device, as shownparticularly in Figures l, 2 and 3. It is indicated generally by thenumeral 23 and may be of any desirable shape. It is formed to provide anair passage or conduit portion 2d within it. This passage is incommunication with the opening 20 in the end member I 9.

A more or less tubular passage forming member`25-is secured to the airchamber 23 and is in communication with it, as shown particularly inFigures 4 and 5'. The inner wall or face oi the air chamber 23 may beperforated to permit passage therethrough of a fastening member 25. inthis case the member comprises a bolt which is threaded to receive a nut2l'. A member 28 may be positioned on the adjacent face or" the member23 to provide a level surface of Contact for the nut 2l. Engagingmembers or hooks 28 and 29a may be movably mounted on the member Il toreceive and latch an accordion in place, as will be described below.

The member i@ may also be perforated to receive pins or attaching means3B when the accordion is in place.

Secured to the member 25 is a plate-like member 3i which may have anupturned flangev 32 about its edge. On its inner surface the plate 3l isprovided with a bolt-supporting' member 33 which is held in place byscrews 34, or otherwise. The member 33 is cut away, as at 35, to permitthe passage of air and serves, as shown particularly in Figures 5 and d,to receive the bolt or screw 23 which is removably held in place by nuts35. By means of this construction, the plate 3i is held in place uponthe air chamber 23. As shown, the plate 3E is perforated, as at 3l, andthis perforation is in register with the member 25. If desired, theremay be positioned about the perforation or opening 3l a member 38 and agasket 38 which is in contact with one end of the member 25.

The structure thusfar described comprises a means for Vsupporting 'anaccordion in suitable po= siton so that it may be played by a player oroperator in a seated position without the necessity of supporting any ofthe weight of the accordion. Y

In general, an accordion comprises two main parts-a bellows section anda keyboard section. When the present invention is in use, a standardaccordion that is, one having keyboard and bellows sections arranged forseparation in a conventional manner such as shown in U. S. patent issuedto Berlin 2,070,853 of February 16, 1937, is separated into these twoparts and the bellows section is mounted upon the plate-like member 31and the keyboard section is mounted upon the framework of the device.The bellows section is shown thus mounted in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. Onlyso much of the accordion mechanism is shown as is necessary for anunderstanding of the device and its use.

The keyboard section is indicated generally by the numeral 4B. Itincludes a reed box 4I. To prevent damage to the reeds, the reed box maybe providedi with a perforated metallic screen 42 which, when theaccordion is separated into parts, prevents damage to the reeds. Thepins 39 pass through flanges 43 on the reed box, and the latches 29 passalso through suitable flanges on the reed box. This condition is shownin Figure l in detail. The keyboard position is therefore supported inthe framework of Figure 3 and may be played by the right hand of theoperator in the conventional manner.

The bellows section of the accordion is designated generally by thenumeral 44 and it is secured to the platelike member 3l by screws 45, orotherwise. These screws pass through suitable perforations or openingsin the member 3I and engage members 46 which form a part of theframework of the standard bellows section. The bellows is thus supportedat the left of the player and may be mounted and used in the customarymanner. v

The ordinary or standard accordion is normally divisible into twosections which form, in effect, units and may be separated or joinedtogether at the will of the player. Ordinarily for playing they arejoined together and the accordion is supported by the player and used asa unit. When the accordion is to be used as shown, these two sectionsare separated and the bellows section is placed upon and secured to themember 3|, while the keyboard section is placed upon the generalframework shown.

Airtight joints are provided so that air when drawn into the bellowssection is discharged through the connection and the air chamber 23 tothe reed box of the keyboard section. The accordion in this position issupported entirely by the device shown, but is played in theconventional manner, the right hand playing the keys of the keyboardsection and the left hand operating the bellows and playing the keys ofthe bellows section.

Although I have shown an operative form of my invention, it will berecognized that many changes in the form, shape and arrangement of partscan be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and myshowing is therefore to be taken as, in a sense, diagrammatic.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows: v

To use the device of this invention, the standard accordion isseparate-d into its two main sections land the keyboard section issecured to the main framework by the pins and the latches 29, or by anysuitable means which will hold it into aireli)A 4 tight contact with thechamber formed by the members I5, I6, I'I, I8 and I9.

The bellows section is secured to the member 3| by screws 45 or by anysuitable means for holding it in airtight Contact and communication withthe passage defined by the plate 3I, the members 38, 39, 25 and 23. Theaccordion, when thus secured to the device, is in position and conditionfor playing.

The operator may sit on the bench or chair 5 or otherwise supporthimself, and he is then free to play the accordion in the conventionalmanner, playing upon the keys of the keyboard section with his righthand and operating the bellows and playing upon the bass keys of thebellows section with his left hand.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a standard accordion comprising a keyboardsection and a separable bellows section, means for supporting the twosections separately in playing relation, comprising members adapted tosupport the bellows sec-- tion and to provide a path for air from thebellows section, and a member to support the keyboard section andincluding conduit means providing a path for air moving from the bellowssection to the keyboard section.

2. In combination with a standard accordion comprising a keyboardsection and a separable bellows section, means for supporting the twosections separately in playing relation, comprising members adaptedremovably to support the bel-A lows section and to provide a path forair fromy board section and including conduit means providing a path forair moving from the bellows section to the keyboard section, saidbellows Section supporting members including means for maintaining saidsupporting members and said keyboard section supporting member in fixedrelation with respect to each other.

4. In combination with an accordion adapted to be separated intokeyboard and bellows assemblies, means for supporting the assemblieswhile separated, said supporting means including a member adapted tosupport the keyboard assembly, and a separate member adapted to supportthe bellows assembly, said members defining air passages from thebellows assembly to the keyboard assembly, the bellows-supportingasembly being positioned to the left of a player positioned in playingposition with respect to the keyboard assembly, whereby the accordionassemblies are in position for normal playing when supported.

5; As a new article of manufacture, a supporting device for supportingthe separated keyboard and bellows assemblies of a standard accordion,

said supporting device including members defining a space adaptedremovably to receive a keyboard assembly for playing with the right handand including separate means for receiving and supporting the bellowsassembly in position to be played by the left hand of a playerpositioned in playing position with respect to the keyboard seotion,said means dening air passages from the bellows assembly to the keyboardassembly.

6. In combination with a standard accordion comprising a keyboardsection and a separable bellows section, means for supporting the twosections in playing relation while separated, comprising members adaptedto support the bellows section and to provide a path for air from thebellows section, and a member to support the keyboard section and toprovide a path for air moving from the bellows section to the keyboardsection, and player supporting means for using the weight of a player tohold the accordion supporting means operatively connected to one of saidmembers in xed position.

7. In combination with a standard accordion comprising a keyboardsection and a. separable bellows section, means for supporting the twosections in playing relation while separated, comprising membersladapted removably to support g" the bellows section and to provide apath for air from the bellows section, and a member to support thekeyboard section and to provide a path for air moving from the bellowssection to the keyboard section, and player supporting means 6 prisingmembers adapted to support the bellows section and to provide a path forair from the bellows section, and means removably to support thekeyboard section and to provide a path for air moving from the bellowssection to the keyboard section, and player supporting means operativelyconnected to the support member for said keyboard section for using theweight of a player to hold the accordion supporting means in xedposition, said bellows section supporting members including means formaintaining said supporting members and said keyboard section supportingmeans in fixed relation with respect to each other.

VICTOR DAL DEGAN.

REFERENCES CITED "The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

